Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-01-07
Jersey city Evening Journa

Jersey city Evening journal
Thirty years ago we advocated in the
journal in Boston then under our control
a reform which we now find brought "
for consideration in Congress by Nj
Grout. representative from Vermont,
viz. the choice of postmasters 10y the
people in place of having them selected
and appointed 10y the government officials
at Washington. We could not then make
many converts to our views, but we pre-
scented them fully with the reasons for
entertaining them, and now after the
lapse of 30 years we hold the same opin-
ion, only more decidedly if possible, and
we are glad that Mr.. Grout has brought
the subject TO the notice of the represent
tatiVes of the people in Congress. His
proposed bill goes only to the extent of
covering those postmasters known as
'fourth-class," but these constitute more
| than threefourths of the whole number
of postmasters in the country. Probably
more than 10000 of our postoilices are of
the "fourth-clHss' The plan of the pro
posed change is to have the people of each
| town, or locality, where Il pOstOillce Is eS
tahlshed, indicate by their ballots, at an
election held for that purpose, the person
whom they would prefer 10 have as post
master, and then to make his appoint
ment by the postmaster general impera
tive on that official, discretion, however
| being given to him to reject the hrst MAI
chosen, in which case IA second election
must be held and another man deslg
| mated.
The postmaster's Office is essentially, il
fact peculiarly, local one ; the people Of
any locality who have constant and daily
business relations with the postoilce and
the postmaster, may fairly be presumed
to know who of their fellow cltlzens
would be good postmaster, much bettel
than the president, or the postmaSter-gen
eraI or even the members of Congress
from the district and a selection made by
Dopular election would secure bette
class of postmasterS than are now obtain
ed by the system OF arbitrary appoint
ment The change, If made, would breal
M and destroy the largest branch of thu
present patronage and Office peddling bus
/, mess it would relieve the senators ant
representatives in Congress OF burden
some task and nj the same time proven
their using the $4,000 postoillces OF tn
] country as levers to pry themselves let
denominations. There could not De an
valid ground of objection to the propose
change on political grounds, for the pee
nile of each town would nave 1t III thel
power to make Il postmaster OF a man {
l either, or any, party, just as the popuit
e preference or majority might he, ana I'M
= | would be genuine popular sovereignty an
4 home rule. If the postmaster of an
t place did not suit the majority OF the pee
V nle who do business with his Office, h
e would be voted out, and another man sui
II stituted for the unpopular Official an
h this wonld he as ii should lie. lhe chang
n need not involve ornecessitate any chau-
o whatever in the present system oi lrall
IS acting postutlice business, or in the sal
r nunr,is and securities which the govern
+ ment requires all these could remain
Il now The only difference That the pos
y master in each place would be the people
choice. instead of the choice of some POI
ticiau or Office seeker.
IS Christmas plays the dickens with Arb(